Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/44—Means for preventing access to live contacts
  • H01R13/447—Shutter or cover plate
  • H01R13/453—Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
  • H01R13/4538—Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
  • H01R24/76—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/648—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding  
  • H01R13/652—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding   with earth pin, blade or socket
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R2103/00—Two poles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
  • H01R24/76—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
  • H01R24/78—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall with additional earth or shield contacts

Definitions

• the invention relates to electrical sockets for connecting appliances and devices to an electrical power line, more particularly to an electrical safety socket device which prevents the occurrence of electric shocks that inadvertently may arise.
• BR Patent Application 9404524-0 discloses an electrical socket device with a rotational disk which is mounted externally on the front side of the outlet socket thereby covering the apertures of the electrical socket device against the insertion of the prongs or blades of a plug.
• the rotational disk is provided with apertures that are identical to the apertures on the outlet and is biased by a spring force to a mutual misalignment of the apertures when the electrical socket device is not used.
• the rotational disk For connecting an appliance plug to the electrical socket device the rotational disk must be turned until both sets of apertures are in alignment thereby enabling the insertion of the prongs or blades of the appliance plug into the apertures of the outlet socket.
• BRMU7402057-9 of 28/11/94 refers to a safety device which is pivotally coupled to an electrical socket device comprising two pairs of covering members of identical shape 11, 11'. Both the pairs of closing members are housed in the casing of an electrical socket device 1 moving in scissor fashioned manner covering and uncovering the apertures 4 of the outlet socket. Said two pairs of members 11, 11' form an assembly which is articulated by respective ring-shaped central portions 12,12' adapted to rotate around an axle 20 located in a middle point between apertures 4.
• Each pair of articulated covering members comprises a distal planar portion 13, 13' extending from the central portions 12,12', said planar portions 13,13' comprising respective an inclined region of surface 14,14' that mutually converge to form a common edge adjacent to both regions of surface 14, 14' when in normal closed position biased by springs 17 thereby covering a respective one aperture 4 of the electrical socket device.
• the distal planar portions 13, 13' articulated by axle 20 are mutually moved away against the biasing force of return springs 17, 17' thereby uncovering the pair of apertures 4 of the electrical socket device for receiving contacts 3.
• FIG. 3 Fig. and the summary disclose a blocking device 306 intended to close the cavities of an electrical socket device 300 comprising an aperture for a live contact 316 and an aperture for a neutral contact 318 on a front plate 314.
• the blocking device 306 comprises a blocking portion 352 that moves between a rest position, in which live contact apertures 316 and neutral contact apertures 318 are closed, and a position which is operative, in which said apertures are open.
• the blocking portion 352 comprises two arms 356, 358 which rest against the live contact apertures 316 and the neutral contact aperture 318 when in the rest condition and in tilted position forming an angle with the direction of translation of the blocking portion 352.
• a blocking assembly is provided moving upwards and downwards embodying the blocking portion 352, which upwardly slope is hit by the tip of the prong of an appliance plug and absorbs the impact causing arms 356 and 358 to move downwards thereby opening passages 342 and 344.
• BRPI9002593 discloses a safety device 1 for sealing cavities of an electrical socket device 2 which comprises a guided cover member 10 for sliding movement within the casing 3 against the force of a spring means 8 between the prongs 12 engaging portions 9 and the prongs engaging cavities located in the electrical socket device.
• the closing member 10 is housed within the outlet socket 2 in tilted relation with respect to a rear portion 27 of casing 3 and comprises two spaced apart surfaces 23, 24 in mutual opposed relation and delimiting a slight angle, means 25, 26 actuating in a portion of the closing member 10 preventing the same from sliding, said portion being pressed by one of the surfaces indicated with 23, 24.
• the main object of this invention is to provide an electrical safety socket device with electric shock protection which includes an appliance plug receiving member that is adapted to cooperate with an appliance plug connected thereto to commutate respective conduction and non conduction states between electric power line and appliance.
• the plug receiving member of the electrical socket device of the invention includes a set of prongs receiving apertures and is responsive to the back- and-forth movement of the appliance plug when fully inserted in the electrical socket device, thereby commutating to the conduction and a non-conduction states respectively.
• the prongs receiving apertures and receiving member are defined by a protrusion area of the electrical socket device, with the known female electric contact elements on the rear side and an auxiliary member disposed therebetween, which are engaged by the pair of prongs of the appliance plug during the back-and-forth movement inside the socket device.
• the prongs receiving apertures are an integral part with the moveable receiving member of the electrical socket device.
• the prongs receiving apertures also can be formed by respective movable wall sections similar to single sleeves.
• the conduction and non conduction states with the electric power line are obtained by a reciprocating movement of the centrally located prongs receiving member.
• the prongs receiving member is spring loaded or actuated by a resilient means for moving back and forth between a normal position with partial depth insertion of the prongs preventing an electrical conduction state and a final position with full depth insertion of the prongs commutating to conduction state.
• a moveable plug receiving member in the outlet socket of the present invention as a transiting member between conduction and non-conduction states does not imply in any installation steps different from the already known ones having regard to the electrical socket devices of the state of the art or in major production costs, large number of additional members.
• the outlet socket provides for the desired safety without changing the simple plugging and unplugging an appliance from power line.
• the electrical socket provides for a safe connection with a sensible minor wear and a durability which is longer than with the electrical protection sockets of the state of the art. This is due to the fact that both the pushing force impelling the plug with the receiving member to full insertion into the electrical socket and the reaction force opposing to said movement are in mutual alignment. There are no lateral or angular force components to overcome or that would interfere similar to those actuating on the blocking and covering members of the electrical safety socket devices of the state of the art.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical socket device of the invention and an appliance plug to be connected thereto in spaced apart relation;
• Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical socket device of figure 1;
• Fig. 3 is a front view of the electrical socket device
• Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view (section B-B, figure 3) of the electrical socket device
• Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view (section A-A, figure 3) ;
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical socket device with an appliance plug received in the prongs receiving member in protruded position with partial depth insertion without electrical conduction;
• Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical socket device with both the appliance plug, the prongs receiving member engaged by power line contacts when in full depth insertion, enabling electric conduction state;
• Fig. 8 is an orthographic drawing showing initial, intermediate and final plugging of the appliance plug relative to power line contacts
• Fig. 9 is an orthographic drawing similar to figure 8 depicting an exemplary single pole introduction with one of the prongs of the appliance plug.
• the electrical socket device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a prongs receiving member 1 which is centrally located and protrudes through an opening on front plate 2 and is amovable mounted inside the casing 5.
• a known distribution of prongs receiving apertures 9 for a corresponding appliance plug 7 is located on the prongs receiving member 1.
• the main members of the electrical socket device are shown in the exploded view of figure 2 and comprise casing 2, the prongs receiving centrally located member 1, a base member 5, and an auxiliary barrier member 8 located therebetween.
• Base member 5 includes a plurality of cavities, fitting and guiding portions which are adapted to house the auxiliary barrier member 8, power line contacts 12, and spring 3 for the retractable movement of the prongs receiving member 1.
• the fitting and guiding portions control the retractable movement of the prongs receiving member 1 relative to power line contacts 12.
• the fitting ad guiding portions comprise a set of fitting spigots 4 and a set of fitting spigots 10 receiving cavities located on the base member 5 which cooperate with respective mounting ears 11 and fitting spigots 10 located on the central member 1.
• Figure 3 shows a conventional design of the prongs receiving central member 1 and cover plate 2 and in phantom lines the hidden internal components of the electrical socket device of the invention.
• the prongs receiving member 1 is of circular shape, similar to a cup and protrudes through cover plate 2 however other parallelepiped shapes and sizes can be used for different models.
• the prongs receiving central member 1 may include prongs receiving apertures of any desired shape and distribution.
• the prong receiving apertures can also be constituted by interchangeable parts disposed on central member 1.
• the electrical socket device will include a movable member which with simple adaptations will be mounted in conventional outlet housing and engaged by an appliance plug of the type that is used, by way of example, to connect electrical adapters, home appliances, devices, filter strips, stabilizers, no-breaks and the like.
• the cross-sectional side view in figure 4 shows the members of the exploded view of figure 2 mounted together.
• Central member 1 is cup-shaped and protrudes through an opening on the front side of casing 2 to a controlled height.
• the appliance plug 7 receiving member 1 is a transiting member, which mechanically commutates electrical conduction and non-conduction states on the basis of its insertion depth or of the appliance plug 7.
• the appliance plug receiving member 1 prevents the occurrence of electric conduction when the appliance plug 7 is not completely pushed into the electric outlet, e.g. when sections of the prongs remain exposed thereby protecting users against electric shocks that arise by an inadvertent finger touch with the prongs or by the insertion of a metal piece by a child in the outlet socket.
• the prongs receiving member or cup 1 is a follower member moved by an appliance plug 7 against the spring force of spring 3 through the front plate of casing 2 towards the base member 5.
• prongs 6 pass through the receiving apertures 9 and abut against mutually opposing stopper portions 13, 14 on both side of a groove and located by pairs on longitudinal opposed distal ends of the auxiliary barrier member 8 mounted on base member 5.
• Auxiliary barrier member 8 is of resilient material. First and second pairs of mutually opposite stopper portions 13, 14 adjacently located to said groove on longitudinal opposed distal ends define respective groove accesses which communicate to the fitting spigot receiving cavities 9 and power line contacts 12 located on base member 5.
• Figure 6 shows the hidden components in a cut-away portion.
• the appliance plug 7 is stopped during partial depth insertion in the prongs receiving central member 1 which protrudes through the opening on the front plate of casing 2 and biased by spring 3.
• Fitting spigots 10 and the tips of the prongs 6 are in abutment to stopper portions 13, 14 of respective groove accesses located on the auxiliary barrier member 8. Since the auxiliary barrier member 8 is made of a non conductive material the prongs section that remain exposed are not energized despite the fact of being received in the prongs receiving apertures 9.
• Figure 7 and the orthographic drawing of figure 8 show initial, intermediate and final engagement of the appliance plug 7 to power line contacts once the prongs receiving member 1 has reached full depth insertion in casing 2.
• the fitting spigots 10 on the prongs receiving member 1 pass through the groove access which is normally closed by stopper portions 14 thereby causing the passage of prongs 6 through the groove access normally closed by mutual converging stopper portions 13 and finally engaging power line electric contacts 12.
• the central member or cup 1 is impelled by spring 3 to return to its initial protruded position until the mounting ears 11 abut against an inner counteredge region defining the opening on the front plate of casing 2.
• Spring 3 is normally a cylindrical spring but any other forms of springs and spring loaded means providing for a spring loaded reciprocal movement of the prongs receiving member 1 could be used without major adaptations. Accordingly the prongs receiving member 1 carrying the appliance plug 7 commutates from the conduction state to the non conduction state first before exposing a section of the prongs 6.
• the orthographic drawing of figure 9 shows an example of a single pole insertion with one of the prongs creating a risk situation due to a possible touch with a fully exposed prong and that is avoided by the electrical socket device of the present invention.
• the material properties and configuration of the prongs receiving member 1 are such that the force of one of the two fitting spigots 10 acting on stopper portions 14 located on one of the longitudinal opposite distal ends of the barrier member 8 is not enough to open the normally closed groove access thereby preventing any engagement of the prong with the power line contact 12.
• the exposed sections of the prongs 6 are electrically isolated through the prongs receiving member 1 thereby protecting fingers and as derived from figure 9 the single pole engagement with a pin shaped metallic object is obstructed.
• the stroke of the prongs receiving member 1 is substantially equivalent to the gap between the inner counteredge region and the base member 5 and is obtained by the passage of a respective fitting spigot through the groove access controlling portions 14 on longitudinal opposite distal ends of the auxiliary barrier member 8.
• the length by which the prongs receiving member 1 protrudes through the front plate of casing 2 may vary up to about 50% and preferably not less than 40% of the length of a prong or blade 6 of an appliance plug 7.
• the spring force varies between 1,1 N and 3 N. Furthermore, to protect the present arrangement against any disequilibrium that may arise by the forces acting on the movable members fitting spigots 4 are provided with ridges along its length.

Landscapes

• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38580653

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2006
  • 2006-04-11 BR BRPI0602276A patent/BRPI0602276B8/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2007
  • 2007-04-10 EP EP07719258A patent/EP2011190A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-04-10 WO PCT/BR2007/000090 patent/WO2007115386A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-04-10 US US12/296,567 patent/US20090305537A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-04-10 CN CNA2007800131646A patent/CN101432933A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-04-10 AR ARP070101512A patent/AR060416A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-04-11 TW TW096112739A patent/TW200810289A/zh unknown
  • 2007-04-11 UY UY30278A patent/UY30278A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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